Features

Q&A with Evan Souliere of Great Coasters International

A few weeks ago, Coaster101 posted photos of the progress of Great Coasters International’s refurbishment of Hurler at Carowinds, located in Charlotte, NC. We recently had the opportunity to interview Evan Souliere, Design Engineer at Great Coasters International about the Hurler...

A-Z Coaster of the Week: Griffon

We head to Williamsburg, VA for our “G” Coaster of the week. Griffon opened at Busch Gardens Williamsburg on May 18, 2007, replacing the park’s iconic Le Mans Raceway, in the New France section of the park. A Bolliger and...

Feb 17, 2014 by Andrew Stilwell Features 0

Our Top 10 Coasters

It seems that everyone who possesses a love for roller coasters has their own Top 10 list. The Golden Ticket Awards give us an overall consensus as to what the population believes to be the “Top 10” roller coasters, but...

Feb 11, 2014 by Kyle Features 10

A-Z Coaster of the Week: Firehawk

This week we travel to Kings Island to ride one of the most unique roller coasters in the world, Firehawk. Relocated from Geauga Lake in 2007, this is only one of two 1018M Vekoma Flying Dutchman roller coasters built. Located...

Feb 10, 2014 by Larry Features 0

A-Z Coaster of the Week: Exterminator

This week we travel to West Mifflin, Pennsylvania for our A-Z Coaster of the Week: Exterminator. Built in 1999, this coaster is not your typical wild mouse, it takes place entirely in the dark! Unlike many of Kennywood’s other coasters,...

Feb 3, 2014 by Kyle Features 1

Q&A With Jeff Hornick, Director of Design and Engineering at Busch Gardens Tampa

Recently, I traveled to Busch Gardens Tampa, and had the opportunity to sit down with Jeff Hornick, Director of Design and Engineering at Busch Gardens, to talk with him about the new Pantopia area, as well as the new Falcon’s Fury drop tower attraction. C101:...

Jan 28, 2014 by Andrew Stilwell Construction Interviews 0

A-Z Coaster of the Week: Dragon Challenge

Our Coaster101.com “A-Z Coaster of the Week” is Dragon Challenge at Universal Orlando’s Islands of Adventure. Dragon Challenge, originally known as Dueling Dragons, opened with the rest of Islands of Adventure on May 28, 1999, and will celebrate its 15th...

Jan 27, 2014 by Andrew Stilwell Features 1

Trip Report: Busch Gardens Tampa

On January 21, I made my first trip to Busch Gardens Tampa in roughly 15 years. I don’t remember the exact date I was last there, but if I recall correctly, Gwazi had just opened, and it was before I...

Jan 21, 2014 by Andrew Stilwell Reviews Trip Reports 0

A-Z Coaster of the Week: Cannonball Run

This week we head south to Gulf Shores, Alabama where we find the A-Z Coaster of the Week: Cannonball Run at Waterville USA. The 1995 Custom Coasters International (CCI) wooden coaster is 65 feet tall and stretches 1,700 feet long. Last...

Jan 20, 2014 by John Stevenson Features 0

Smoky Mtn. Alpine Coaster

“Ride the hill… Feel the thrill” on the new Smoky Mountain Alpine Coaster! This is the first ride of its type in the southern states. Opened last summer in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, this unique coaster takes riders on over a...

Jan 17, 2014 by Kyle Features 0

Universal Orlando: The Unofficial Story

Universal Orlando: The Unofficial Story is the ultimate book about the creation and development of the Universal Orlando Resort. Relive the history of the resort from conception through the present day including all the bumps in the road along the...

Jan 14, 2014 by Nick Weisenberger Features Interviews 3

A-Z Coaster of the Week: BomBora

The A-Z Coaster of the Week is BomBora, found at Lagoon Park in Farmington, Utah. A surf themed family roller coaster, BomBora was Lagoon’s ninth coaster. It’s name is a term that means “a confluence of waves.” The 45 foot tall...

Jan 13, 2014 by Nick Weisenberger Features 0